The web tool that I have chosen to focus on for my capstone lesson plan project is Voki. Voki is an animated speaking tool. Using Voki the user can choose from a variety of characters, custom alter them, and provide them with the means to speak. To begin using Voki one muster register to make an account. A basic account with Voki is free to use, which is great with today's ever shrinking educational budgets. This basic account will allow the user to make a customized character (with limited choices), provide these characters with up to a 1 minute speech, and then publish and post their creation.
For the educator willing to spend a little for convenience, Voki offers a classroom account option (15 day free trial at the time of this writing) . With this option teachers can privatize their account and give students individual work spaces within individual lesson sites. Later teachers can access student work and provide comments. In addition to this students will have access to all of Voki characters and be able to create up to 60 seconds of speech.
This tool can be used in a number different contexts both for the teacher and the student. Teachers will find it useful in giving instructions to their students in a way that is not just standing up and talking in front of the classroom. This is particularly good when combined with online work areas such as Moodle, Wiki Spaces, or Edmodo. For students this tool provides them with a way to express themselves while doing there school work at the same time.
Benefits of Tool or App-
Students now have a way to add creative expression into there work.
Shy students have a way to present work without having to be in front of others.
Students have their written work spoken back which aids in grammatical corrections.
Due to the time constraints on the characters speech students must use clear and precise writing to present ideas.
Teachers now have an alternative way to give classroom instructions.
Constraints of Tool or App-
There is a cost associated with the complete package.
There is a limit to the amount of audio allowed.
When using the text to audio feature words may need to be typed phonetically for correct pronunciation.
Depending upon the number of users to the site there can be slow running times.
Older students may find the application immature.
How To Use Tool or App-
For those new to Voki there is a "Learn" tab at the top of the page which contains information and tutorials for getting started. There is also a "Lesson Plan" tab which contains ideas and lesson descriptions from other teachers who are using Voki within there classrooms. Another tab at the top which is probably the most important is the create tab. Clicking there will allow the user to begin creating there customizable speaking characters. Step one would be to choose a character, clicking on the icon that looks like a head will give you the categories and choices to choose from. If the character has graduation cap on it then this character will only be allowed to be published if you have a classroom account.
Once a character has been chosen using the icons you can then customize their hairstyles and mouth shapes, clothing, and additions such as glasses labeled "bling". After choosing the features you want you then click done and it closes these tools. When this is done under the image is a customizing tool that will help to change the physical features of your character (shape and color). Next I like to choose a background, and then a player (this is the frame around the image that looks like an iPod). Also located on the player are tools that can adjust the positioning of the image, the volume of the audio, and the play/pause button for the audio. The last step is to now give your character a voice. This can be done in three ways either calling it in using a phone, recording it using your computers microphone, uploading a previously recorded audio file, or adding it through text. If you opt to use text you are also able to choose what accent/language you want it to speak and lastly which character voice you would like to give it.
Once all this is done the last step is to publish your product, for this you will need to title it and then save. Now that this is done you can obtain your embed codes and and URL to share with others.
Original Artifact of Tool or App-
This example was made as an introduction for my students into a unit entitled, "The Physics of Sailing".
This was made as an example for my students during a project where they had to make an honorary speech for a famous scientist. This was made as an example for my
Classroom Uses for Tool or App-
Student Uses-
Honorary speeches for famous scientists.
Advertising statements for why someone "must" have a specific element.
Political statements defending their states position (pro or con) on a particular type of energy source.
An explanation to perspective financial backers about the design of a sail boat and why it will win the race.
Teacher Uses-
Introductions to Moodle units. Such as "The Physics of Sailing".
Teacher introductions, expectations, and later updates within a student and parent wiki page.
A developers request to run a highway through the local areas national forest for which students will have to come up with a list of pros and cons.
Description of Tool or App-
The web tool that I have chosen to focus on for my capstone lesson plan project is Voki. Voki is an animated speaking tool. Using Voki the user can choose from a variety of characters, custom alter them, and provide them with the means to speak. To begin using Voki one muster register to make an account. A basic account with Voki is free to use, which is great with today's ever shrinking educational budgets. This basic account will allow the user to make a customized character (with limited choices), provide these characters with up to a 1 minute speech, and then publish and post their creation.For the educator willing to spend a little for convenience, Voki offers a classroom account option (15 day free trial at the time of this writing) . With this option teachers can privatize their account and give students individual work spaces within individual lesson sites. Later teachers can access student work and provide comments. In addition to this students will have access to all of Voki characters and be able to create up to 60 seconds of speech.
This tool can be used in a number different contexts both for the teacher and the student. Teachers will find it useful in giving instructions to their students in a way that is not just standing up and talking in front of the classroom. This is particularly good when combined with online work areas such as Moodle, Wiki Spaces, or Edmodo. For students this tool provides them with a way to express themselves while doing there school work at the same time.
Benefits of Tool or App-
Constraints of Tool or App-
How To Use Tool or App-
For those new to Voki there is a "Learn" tab at the top of the page which contains information and tutorials for getting started. There is also a "Lesson Plan" tab which contains ideas and lesson descriptions from other teachers who are using Voki within there classrooms. Another tab at the top which is probably the most important is the create tab. Clicking there will allow the user to begin creating there customizable speaking characters. Step one would be to choose a character, clicking on the icon that looks like a head will give you the categories and choices to choose from. If the character has graduation cap on it then this character will only be allowed to be published if you have a classroom account.
Once a character has been chosen using the icons you can then customize their hairstyles and mouth shapes, clothing, and additions such as glasses labeled "bling". After choosing the features you want you then click done and it closes these tools. When this is done under the image is a customizing tool that will help to change the physical features of your character (shape and color). Next I like to choose a background, and then a player (this is the frame around the image that looks like an iPod). Also located on the player are tools that can adjust the positioning of the image, the volume of the audio, and the play/pause button for the audio. The last step is to now give your character a voice. This can be done in three ways either calling it in using a phone, recording it using your computers microphone, uploading a previously recorded audio file, or adding it through text. If you opt to use text you are also able to choose what accent/language you want it to speak and lastly which character voice you would like to give it.
Once all this is done the last step is to publish your product, for this you will need to title it and then save. Now that this is done you can obtain your embed codes and and URL to share with others.
Original Artifact of Tool or App-
This example was made as an introduction for my students into a unit entitled, "The Physics of Sailing".
This was made as an example for my students during a project where they had to make an honorary speech for a famous scientist. This was made as an example for my
Classroom Uses for Tool or App-
Student Uses-
Teacher Uses-